MIXED FEELINGS ON KEY ISSUES, SAYS MP SURVEY

Tri-City residents are split on their support of the U.S. missile defence
system, same-sex marriage and legalizing prostitution, according to numbers
released last week by MP James Moore.

The Conservative MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam asked
constituents eight questions in a non-scientific survey printed in local
community newspapers and 51% of respondents said they were in favour of the
missile defence program. On the question of supporting same-sex marriage,
56% of respondents voted in favour while 47% said prostitution should be
legalized.

The sharp divide "shows the community is wrestling with these questions,"
Moore said.

But the results were clearer when it came to the issue of marijuana: 93% of
respondents said laws against pot growers should be tougher while 62% said
they were against decriminalizing weed.

As well, 66% of respondents said the Tories are "on the right track."

The questions were chosen because they are topical, Moore said. (The
federal Liberals passed a recommendation at their policy convention last
month to legalize prostitution and decriminalizing pot is now before
parliament). "It's worth me knowing what the views of my constituents are
on these issues," Moore said.

The MP also said one out of 10 respondents attached letters to their
surveys to articulate their views on the subjects. "Some of that stuff was
really interesting - stuff I hadn't thought of before or they had different
experiences to add to the debate," he said.

Moore noted, however, that the poll is not scientific. The two newspaper
surveys were paid from Moore's parliamentary budget.